In response to my recent post about the possibility of using dogs to sniff out TCA-laden corks, Darlyne Miller of Sonoma’s Sojourn Cellars was kind enough to write and point out that their dog Ziggy does just that. A well-trained Labrador retriever, Ziggy's original owner sold oak chips and powders. Ziggy was trained to use her amazing sniffer to find any problems with TCA, and apparently still does the job, as a couple of articles posted on the winery website confirm. My question – does Sojourn have a zero percent incidence of corked wines?

Shanken News Daily reports that Vines and Canines, in Louisville, Kentucky, now offers dog-friendly shopping. Boutique wines, small-batch bourbons and spirits, craft beers, leashes, collars, beds and pet treats are on display. My question – do the dogs get carded? And if so, do dog years count?

On a sadder note, the drinks business website reports that Montana police have arrested a man and charged him with animal cruelty after spotting his Pomeranian, Arly II, wobbling and weaving around Smith’s Bar. Arly’s owner, who is currently spending time at the county jail with bail set at $30,000, had been giving him shots of vodka. A blood test found Arly’s blood alcohol level at a hefty 0.348 percent. The story goes on to note that the legal limit for drivers is 0.08 percent. My question – was Arly really going to try driving home?